The possibility of building a football base in the Imeretinskaya lowland has raised concerns among eco-activists and residents.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", ecologist Evgeny Vitishko was outraged by the authorities' plans to build a year-round training center for Russia's national football teams in the Imeretinskaya lowland. The construction project includes holding public hearings.

Participation in public hearings is available to all citizens

Any citizen, regardless of their place of residence, can participate in public discussions on the state ecological expertise project, believes lawyer and environmental law specialist Evgeny Zhirov.

"Legislation does not limit the right to participate only to residents of nearby areas. Environmentalists, public activists, and concerned residents have full legal grounds to submit their comments, written objections, and proposals to the responsible authority - the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Krasnodar Territory," he told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot.".

According to him, there is a set of measures that public activists can take to protect the park.

"To protect the natural park, a set of actions is proposed: participation in public discussions, conducting independent public ecological expertise, preparing scientific objections from relevant specialists, appeals to the environmental prosecutor's office, and actively informing the public," he noted.

Ecologist Evgeny Brinikh notes that not only Sochi residents but also representatives of the expert community from all over the country can participate in the public discussion process, believes the environmental activist.

"All citizens, including biologists, ecologists, and representatives of relevant NGOs, have the right to participate in public hearings, regardless of their registration. The main steps in the fight for the park will be mass submission of comments on the project, conducting alternative public ecological expertise, and appealing to the environmental prosecutor's office to prevent the appropriation of clusters for sports infrastructure," he told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot.".

Construction in the park will threaten the habitat of rare birds

Development of clusters will lead to the destruction of the unique ecosystem of the Imeretinskaya lowland, the specialist is convinced.

The Imeretinka is a crucial stopover for more than 200 species of migratory birds, dozens of which, such as the little stint, peregrine falcon, wader, and little cormorant, are listed in the Red Books.

"The Imeretinka is a crucial stopover for more than 200 species of migratory birds, dozens of which, such as the little stint, peregrine falcon, wader, and little cormorant, are listed in the Red Books. The construction of a football base with artificial lighting, noisy facilities, and infrastructure will inevitably scare away the birds and completely destroy the remaining areas of coastal wet meadows and relic Colchian lowlands," he noted.

Eco-activist Zhanna Rybak believes that the proximity to a large sports facility will have fatal consequences for the park's ornithofauna.

"The park is valuable for its preserved fragments of natural biotopes, where rare bird species stop to rest and winter. The emergence of a training base with a constant factor of disturbance, replacement of natural soil, and year-round load will simply deprive the birds of a safe habitat and negate the entire conservation value of these two clusters," she told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot.".

She is convinced that the appropriation of areas for construction will cause irreparable harm to the region's biodiversity.

"The Imeretinskaya lowland represents a unique natural complex, where rare species of subtropical and marsh vegetation grow. The placement of hotels, fields, and administrative buildings in the park will lead to the fragmentation of the unified natural framework and the final loss of valuable natural landscapes," she noted.

The construction of a sports base on the territory of the ornithological park has caused a sharp negative reaction from the local population, believes environmental activist Diana Dzhavadova.

"People are being deprived of the last patches of wilderness, turning the protected area into a closed commercial facility, which will inevitably lead to constant noise, light pollution, and household waste right next to residential buildings," she told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot.".

Due to the emergence of infrastructure and the constant presence of people, the birds will simply leave these places.

Local activists are determined not to accept the destruction of the unique ecosystem.

"For the townspeople, this park is not just dry numbers in documents, but a unique place where rare bird species live and relic plants grow. Due to the emergence of infrastructure and the constant presence of people, the birds will simply leave these places, so we, together with the residents, will actively demand the preservation of the status of specially protected natural areas and will not allow the transformation of the natural zone into a construction site," she pointed out.

Residents opposed the construction

Local residents reported that they oppose the plans of the Russian Football Union.

"It would be better to invest this money in real nature protection and the preservation of rare species, rather than in another useless field," said Sochi resident Nata Miller to a correspondent of  "Caucasian Knot.".

In Imeretinka, there are practically no green areas left after the Olympics, and giving away the last plots for construction is simply unacceptable.

Another resident Alena Ivanova is convinced that nature is more important than men's desire to play football.

"Leave nature and wildlife alone. There is no place for men with a ball there; find another location. There are plenty all over Russia. In Imeretinka, there are practically no green areas left after the Olympics, and giving away the last plots for construction is simply unacceptable," she said.

Alexey Medelyaev is also against it but doubts that anyone will consider the opinions of ordinary residents.

"I don't want the park to be spoiled by football fields. But does anyone consider our opinion or ask what we want? They have already decided and will do it as planned anyway. All these hearings are likely just a formality for show," he emphasized.

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